Evolution accusers still in the shadows, Kalshi targeted in Nevada, Aspire Global hit with UK penalty

In this week’s news update, we have seen a number of regulatory moves in the sector, as well as a fresh twist in the Evolution accusers’ legal saga.

The legal saga with Evolution’s anonymous accusers has taken a new turn, after Judge John C. Porto ruled that he would hear an oral argument on Friday, March 28. This comes after the judge initially ordered the company representing the defendants, Calcagni & Kanefsky LLP, to share the identity of their clients with Evolution’s lawyers within a seven-day period.

A last-minute stay filed by the law firm, however, has now deferred this. Once the argument is held, the judge will determine if the defendants have merit to maintain their anonymity.

Kalshi, the prediction market platform that spearheaded election future contracts in the United States against all odds and pressure from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, has faced new challenges in Nevada this week.

The state’s Gaming Control Board has deemed Kalshi’s event-based contracts to be unlawful and to offer action on an activity that requires licensing from the Nevada Gaming Commission. In the absence of such licensing, the Board has deemed Kalshi’s actions unlawful and warned the company it could face legal action.

Regulation and laws

Aspire Global has settled with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), agreeing to pay £1.4m over AML and responsible gambling failures.

The company was targeted by the regulator for a second time over the past several years and pointed out several instances that put gamblers exhibiting reckless gambling behavior at risk by failing to intervene preemptively.

The UKGC has acknowledged that Aspire Global has taken remedial action, which mitigated some of the issues, but ultimately, the transgressions were serious enough to mandate a stiffer financial penalty.

The Autorité Nationale des Jeux has issued a record €800,000penalty against Unibet, citing technical issues with the company’s responsible gambling practices, and technology used to restrict players from accessing products that they have excluded themselves from.

According to the ANJ, due to a technical glitch, some 6,754 players have been able to access Unibet’s gambling products even though they had previously been excluded from it.

Business and finance

BetMGM has confirmed that it will be reducing its workforce by 83 positions in its headquarters in New Jersey, based on a new public notice filed with the New Jersey Department of Labor.

The company has not commented on why this move was necessary, especially amid soaring results, but the firm suggested that tougher times lie ahead, prompting it to act preemptively.

Acknowledging the difficulty of the decision, BetMGM said that its priority was to remain resilient and cost-trimming at the present time was necessary.

Lottomatica has reported solid results in the FY2024, which ended on December 31, 2024. The company reported a year-over-year revenue increase of 23%, to €2bn. Notably, the online revenue soared by 50%, hitting 780.2m.

"We exceeded expectations set at the beginning of the year and subsequent upgrades, with revenues of €2,045m and Adjusted EBITDA of €739m at normalized payout, +24% compared to FY 2023," company CEO Guglielmo Angelozzi explained.

Laws and regulation

YouTube is going to make changes to the way gambling content is shared, commented on, and marketed on its platform. The company said that "unapproved gambling sites" will no longer be given leeway.

Content creators would have to comply with the new rules come March 19. Essentially, YouTube is following in the footsteps of Twitch in reducing the amount of gambling content that can be advertised on its platform, focusing squarely on regulated gambling sites.

Responsible gambling

A new survey by GAMSTOP has indicated that some students, especially male students, may be inclined to spend almost as much on their gambling habits per week as they do on groceries. The new study reveals worrying trends in consumer spending, and especially among students.

However, the survey similarly notes that awareness for problem gambling resources is growing at a good clip, allowing people who suffer from gambling-related issues to seek help and access support resources.

March is also Problem Gambling Awareness Month, which has prompted Casino Guru News to seek input from some of the industry’s best-known experts and stakeholders with proven track records in upholding responsible gambling and promoting it.

A total of seven experts contributed to the round-up piece, which emphasized the need to understand problem gambling and address it head-on through tangible and proven practices.

The voice of the industry

Vixio has opened the application window for the Global Regulatory Awards, inviting interested parties to compete across 23 categories that distinguish significant achievement in areas of compliance, responsibility, and transparency.

Eventus International has reminded potentially interested parties that the seminal iGaming Germany is now less than 1 month away and is due to take place on April 1-2 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Casino Guru News also caught up with Bibiana Zemanikova, HR Business Partner at Casino Guru, who is in charge of developing and improving not only the HR department, but also the entire company's processes. Read the latest Casino Guru Insiders piece here.

The publication also caught up with Shlomi Zilbert to discuss BetGames’ brand-new tap game, Penguin Rush. Zilbert, who is a Game Producer at the company, has gone through the development process, what helps a title stand out, and how it positions in the marketplace.

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